Australia’s Wallabies beat France 25-23 in Paris thriller

Australia beat France 25-23 in a thrilling one-off rugby union test match at the Stade de France on Saturday, handing the hosts a reality check after their thrashing of Samoa last week.

The Wallabies, who rallied from 8-0 down to lead 13-11 at half-time, held off a late French charge with Camille Lopez missing a drop kick in the last action of the match.

Michael Cheika’s side, who kicked off their tour with back-to-back wins against Wales and Scotland, next play Ireland and England, as they eye a Grand Slam of Home Nations for the first time since 1984.

Both sides scored three tries apiece — the Wallabies first a penalty try followed by one from Bernard Foley, a late call-up for the injured Quade Cooper, and a spectacular effort from Tevita Kuridrani.

It was a return to reality for France who had been aiming to build on their morale-boosting 52-8 thrashing of Samoa.